Best players probably use one in every of the very best gaming keyboards in the marketplace, however some are all the time trying to strive one thing drastically completely different in an try and get an higher hand. That’s the place the brand new Azeron Cyborg Compact joins the match, sporting greater than 20 programmable buttons, a 3D printed body and a glance that’s straight out of old-school Cyberpunk.
The Azeron Cyborg Compact is dear and completely different sufficient that you just may count on a severe studying curve. Surprisingly it truly didn’t take that a lot time to get used to, but it surely additionally looks like you might spend a near-inifite period of time tweaking issues within the software program and swapping out the numerous replaceable components to get issues simply best for you. Should you give it time, the Cyborg Compact can ship a singular, pleasant gaming expertise. And it’ll positively drum up conversations with individuals who see it sitting in your desk.
Design of the Azeron Cyborg Compact
What do you get whenever you combine a keyboard and a controller collectively? You get the Azeron Cyborg Compact by Azeron. This isn’t the corporate’s first funky controller like this. Azeron sells the common Cyborg, the Basic, the Compact and the Cyborg Compact, which is what we’ve immediately. However here is one odd bit that actually signifies how lengthy the corporate has been engaged on these controllers. The Cyborg Compact (and seemingly the entire related fashions) connect with your PC by way of a Mini USB port. Sure you learn that proper. The Cyborg Compact makes use of a connector that was changed by Micro-USB in 2007. And Micro USB has nearly fully been supplanted by USB-C at this level. Effectively, a minimum of the Mini USB cable is 6-foot lengthy and braided.
The unique Compact isn’t drastically completely different than the Cyborg Compact, however the Cyborg variant has extra buttons and is rather more adjustable. Once I first arrange the Cyborg Compact, I used to be in awe over what number of buttons are on this factor: 23 – or 25 when you rely the 2 thumbsticks. Whereas it’s good to have so many buttons, at first there have been quite a few events the place I by chance actuated one by merely resting my hand. Nonetheless, Azeron considered this by permitting you to regulate the peak of the buttons, or disable some in software program that you just discover uncomfortable to make use of. The Azeron software program is kind of intuitive, and allows you to set two profiles. This isn’t as many as I’d’ve anticipated. Most peripherals lately help far more than that. Nonetheless, this can let you leap between video games with out rebinding keys.
The construct high quality of the Cyborg Compact feels nice – most of its elements are 3D printed (maybe utilizing one of many finest 3D printers), and the entire thing feels prefer it might maintain its personal towards rage quits. Nestled beneath the 3D printed buttons are mouse switches designed by premium swap maker Omron.
The eye to element on the Cyborg Compact is gnarly– the colour matching is actually good. Azeron despatched us a mannequin with the Tom’s {Hardware} colorway, and the sleeved cables matched the shade of crimson on the thumbsticks and trim. And practically each button and piece might be ordered in one in every of 18 completely different colours. Observe, although that the $172 mannequin is available in primary black and white. Choosing a number of additional colours can push the value as much as or above $250. Our configuration is priced at $274.
For that top value, although, Azeron consists of plenty of goodies within the field, like a pleasant iFixit-like screwdriver, a second palm relaxation, additional screws, two mini screwdrivers and rubber grip tape. Whereas I wished to benefit from the pre-installed palm relaxation, it felt too tall for my hand, so I wanted to put in the low-profile one. Whereas putting in the low-profile palm relaxation seems daunting as a result of variety of screws and tiny cables unfold throughout the system, it’s easy.The one situation is how tiny the connecting cables are. If in case you have large arms like I do, it’s finest to make use of tweezers to attach the wires. Altering a palm relaxation shouldn’t name for surgical procedure in your Cyborg, but it surely could possibly be worse.
Gaming
My prayers have been answered. Activision has added round-based to Name of Obligation: Vanguard’s Zombies mode. This felt like the right alternative to strive the Cyborg in a sport, and although it seems extraordinarily advanced and completely different from a keyboard and mouse or a conventional controller, getting used to Azeron’s keypad didn’t take that lengthy.
Once I acquired into the match, I took be aware of which buttons my fingers organically pressed and mapped them accordingly throughout the software program. I didn’t run into too many points in-game, however the ones I did face have been fairly extreme. The thumbstick is a bit too tall and heavy to press, even with my massive arms. Whereas Azeron sends smaller sticks with the Compact, putting in them requires severe disassembly.
I’m an enormous baseball fan, however as a result of I’m on PC, I can not play any of the MLB:The Present video games, so I made a decision to put in Cricket 22. The Cyborg was surprisingly extra comfy to make use of on this sport than Vanguard, as a result of I solely needed to depend on 4 buttons and the joystick. The joystick allowed me to goal the place I wished to hit the ball and goal my pitches both within the grime or straight on the wickets.
The Cyborg Compact has a ton of buttons, and whereas I’m positive some players (primarily MMO RPG gamers) will make the most of all of them, I stored clicking or by chance rubbing up towards the facet button the place my pinky finger sits, inflicting slight psychological and bodily irritation. However once more, if one thing related occurs to you, you may disable that button and nonetheless have a number of others to select from.
Software program
The Azeron software program was simple to navigate, which made remapping the keys moderately easy. Clearly, all of us want to start out with some form of reference if we’re remapping a keypad to behave as a controller. Azeron has made it simple to remap the keys on the Cyborg by itemizing the precise names on Xbox controllers, as an alternative of ambiguously hiding them behind numbers. Together with it being a controller substitute, the Cyborg Compact may act as a numpad, macropad and a totally practical keyboard. The extent of customization with Azeron’s software program makes the Cyborg greater than only a controller substitute – I can see it being helpful for players with restricted motor expertise or different bodily problems.
Backside line
The Azeron Cyborg Compact is a really area of interest product. And regardless of its distinctive seems, it wasn’t too tough to get used to whereas gaming with a mouse. Personally, the Cyborg Compact had too many buttons for me, which led to a major quantity of unintended inputs and irritation on my left pinky, though it’s pretty simple to disable buttons within the software program. However, likelihood is when you’re contemplating the Cyborg Compact, you’ll have expertise with earlier fashions otherwise you simply need to strive one thing completely different – and this controller is certainly completely different.
Should you prefer to tinker with software program settings and the assorted swappable components to make it actually your personal, there’s loads that you are able to do with the Azeron Cyborg Compact, particularly exterior of its major focus as a gaming controller. And regardless of its heavy price ticket, its 3D printed-structure and stage of customization choices make it price contemplating if you wish to combine up your gaming setup and check out one thing completely different than a conventional controller or a keyboard and mouse.
